You know many people have asked me questions similar to, “How do I remove all my personal info from Google,” Facebook, or whatever, “it worries me?” They have a lot of information about you, and you may not realize it. They most likely know your political viewpoint, favorite candidates, what you think about various things. Maybe what colors you prefer, what you enjoy snacking on, are you a gun owner, your favorite pet and maybe even what breed you own. You have answered polls and online quizzes, play games, having fun. But they have information on you. Why does that matter? They can sell this information to others to figure out how to approach you about your “wants and needs” they can send to you via voicemail and text messages, full of well-placed ads, just for you. Oh yeah, you have most likely given them your email address and phone number.
Google is one of my favorite internet places to go. It has everything. But occasionally I need to check on it and see what it has stored about me, my security, and who I am sharing with. To find your personal information on Google, check the following areas, and hopefully, they will help you. Keep in mind that even as I write this to you, things can change quickly, but do not give up – and do give it a try.
Go to your Google Account settings (myaccount.google.com) and click on “Data & privacy.” From there, look around and see what you can change or remove from your information. Scroll down the list of things on that page and reset some of them or leave them alone. (see it below.)
If you see one and do not quite understand what it does, there will be short descriptions for you to review. Moreover, if they have an arrow in the text, you may click it for more details. Look around, you cannot hurt anything unless, of course, you choose to delete your account, which you can do if you wish. The ones I would check, if this is your first time, are “History settings”, and “Info you can share with others.” Then I would scroll to “More options” to check “Make a plan for your digital legacy.” Yes, as chilling as it sounds, you can tell Google what to do with your info after your death. It will even send out emails to specific people if you wish.
What about other platforms, like Facebook and the other millions out there? Check the privacy and security settings of other platforms you use and follow similar steps to check your information.
It is important to note that removing personal information from these platforms may not completely eliminate it from the internet, and may still be stored in backups or logs. This creates another question. “Who owns my personal information on public platforms such as Google, Facebook, Twitter (now known as X), and others?“
The ownership of your personal information on public platforms is a complex issue. On one hand, you are the creator of the information and therefore have some ownership over it. On the other hand, the platforms themselves have certain rights to collect, use, and share your information as stated in their terms of service agreements and privacy policies. Generally, these platforms collect and store your personal information to provide their services to you, to personalize your experience, and to serve targeted advertising. They also may share your information with third-party partners for business purposes.
It is important to carefully review the terms of service and privacy policies of these platforms before using them to understand their practices and policies regarding your personal information. You can also adjust your privacy settings and limit the amount of information you share to control who has access to your information.
Some platforms may continue to use your information, including photos, even if you close your account. Caveat emptor!
